Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and HaldiaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Haldia
Monthly Cost of Living
ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $406 in Haldia.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $658 in Haldia.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $910 in Haldia.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 204% more expensive than Haldia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Haldia70% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$3.11âđ295
48.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$11.60âđ1,102
303.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$4.98âđ473
77.51%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.80âđ171
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.41âđ38.48
80.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.13âđ12.48
184.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.73âđ164
41.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.35âđ223
53.62%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.67âđ64.0
237.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.39âđ37.34
371.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$0.62âđ59.0
261.29%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.02âđ97.1
127.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$4.52âđ429
335.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$2.88âđ273
26.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.42âđ230
40.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$0.79âđ75.0
107.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.28âđ121
88.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$0.61âđ58.2
232.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.41âđ38.70
280.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.60âđ57.0
150.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.45âđ42.37
126.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.34âđ31.81
44.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$4.00âđ379
11.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$8.57âđ814
120.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.59âđ151
11.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.41âđ229
14.11%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$7.29âđ692
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.30âđ28.76
366.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$8.79âđ834
30.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.56âđ53.4
457.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.28âđ26.58
257.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$2.08âđ198
577.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.19âđ113
13.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$11.8Kâđ1.1M
130.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$21.9Kâđ2.1M
49.99%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$41.93âđ3,981
198.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$3.97âđ376
241.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$7.26âđ690
155.10%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$16.02âđ1,521
283.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$6.97âđ662
141.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$3.96âđ376
132.07%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$43.67âđ4,146
1498.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$1,590âđ151.0K
880.47%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$28.01âđ2,659
106.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$30.50âđ2,896
15.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$47.50âđ4,510
138.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$31.96âđ3,034
170.28%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$123âđ11.7K
398.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$75.7âđ7,188
489.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$273âđ25.9K
650.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$179âđ16.9K
735.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,037âđ98.5K
264.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$492âđ46.7K
438.91%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$438âđ41.5K
19.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.9
-46.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Haldia: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $123 in Haldia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $12.00 in Haldia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $108 per month, with Haldia cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Phuket vs Haldia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Haldia?
Phuket and Haldia differ by about 204% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $406 including rent). Haldia is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Haldia?
Phuket pays 20% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Haldia?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $123 in Haldia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Haldia?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $406 in Haldia â a 204% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Haldia?
A monthly transit pass in Haldia runs roughly 31% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $406 in Haldia versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Haldia but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Haldia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Haldia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Haldia safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Haldia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Haldia?
Expats usually find Haldia gentler on the wallet â expenses run 204% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.